Area art lovers will get the chance to see the best of local artistic talent in the 15th Annual Kaleidoscope: AVA’s Holiday Show, which opens Dec. 1 at Summit Artspace on East Market, 140 E. Market St., Akron.

This year’s juried exhibition organized each year by the Alliance for the Visual Arts will be held through Jan. 6, 2018. The show will open with a free Meet the Artists Reception & Awards on Friday, Dec. 1, 5-8 p.m. in the main gallery at Summit Artspace on East Market. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

The art exhibition was founded in 2003 by AVA which is the umbrella group of the four area arts organizations: Akron Society of Artists, Artists of Rubber City, Cuyahoga Valley Art Center and the Women’s Art League of Akron. Active members are eligible to compete in Kaleidoscope. This is a very prominent show and gives inspiration to artists and art lovers from all over Northeast Ohio.

Cash prizes for the top juried winners will be announced at the opening event. Gallery visitors will be able to vote for their favorite piece to win the coveted Kaleidoscope Award, a working kaleidoscope designed and hand-blown by glass artist Bob Pozarski. The winner will be announced at the gallery during First Night Akron, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. Summit Artspace on East Market will be open from 6-9 p.m. for the end-of-year event. Sue Mencini was the 2016 People’s Choice winner.

The Kaleidoscope artists will gather for a panel discussion on Thursday, Jan. 4, 7 p.m. in the main gallery surrounded by the artwork. The event is free. Reserve your seat here: ow.ly/W58T30glyRS.

Summit Artspace’s main gallery is open Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 7 p.m.; and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Additional hours include 5-9 p.m. during the Dec.21 3rd THURSDAY and 5-9 p.m. for the Jan. 6 Artwalk.

Summit Artspace is a non-profit community art center organization that provides studio, exhibit and programming spaces in Summit County and the surrounding area for local artists and arts organizations; and is a center for art education open to all residents. Contact Summit Artspace at 330-376-8480. On the Web at www.summitartspace.org. Find us on Facebook, on Twitter @AkronAreaArts, Instagram and Snapchat.

Sue Mencini’s work that won the 2017 Kaleidoscope People’s Choice Award, Amber Waves of Grace